Whitepaper: Circular economy in the con-struction industry. Think in cycles and become sustainable with the Alpha IC C2C evaluation matrix

The consumption of raw materials is increasing worldwide. The construction industry in particular is one of the most resource-intensive sectors of the economy. It is considered to be one of the main factors responsible for global warming. This gigantic demand for raw materials is supplemented by an excessive and inappropriate use of building materials, as a result of only one-time use or down-cycling of building materials. However raw materials are limited.

Therefore, sustainable building includes the consideration of "recycling" from the planning of the construction through to the demolition process. This is in addition to energy efficiency, the saving of CO₂ and the use of renewable energies. In recent years, the concept of the circular economy, based on the "Cradle to Cradle" (C2C) school of thought, has become established.

In view of the targeted climate neutrality in Germany by 2045 and the finite nature of raw materials, it is important to promote C2C in the real estate and construction industry. In order to support this transformation process, Alpha IC has developed an evaluation matrix which, independent of BIM, maps the recyclability of the projected property in four categories. This innovative analysis tool makes it possible to advise on the choice of material and construction and to continuously show optimization potential with regard to C2C and its effects. This saves costs during the planning process and complements well-known building certifications in a sensible and holistic way.

Do you want to make your projects recyclable? Feel free to download our white paper "Circular Economy in the Construction Industry". Enjoy reading.